It was a big day for Catawba College’s Indians.They proved a point with a 34-7 victory over Gardner-Webb’s Bulldogs in what was billed as the defensive
game of the year in the South Atlantic Conference at Kirkland Field at Shuford Stadium.
They won the defensive battle in impressive fashion.
The Indians treated a large
homecoming crowd with their sixth win against a single loss with four games left on their
schedule. It’s one of the Tribe’s best starts in recent years.
The important win put the
Redskins in sole possession of second place in the conference race with a 4-1 record. The loss
dropped the Bulldogs to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the SAC.
Catawba scored two touchdowns
within a 16-second span to take command and stay in charge for the rest of the game.
They came back in the third period
for two more touchdowns that were scored with in an 82-second period. The scores gave the
Indians a 28-0 lead.
Catawba held the high-scoring
Bulldogs, who had scored 27 or more points in five of their first six games, to one touchdown. It came on a
long pass play in the third period. Catawba added its final score early in the last
period.
It was Catawba’s fourth
straight win at home.
Gardner-Webb entered the game as the No. 1
defensive team in the conference, allowing just 230 yards per game. Catawba was close behind with 252 per
game.
In the showdown, the Indians held a
20-8 advantage in first downs. They held the Bulldogs to 118 in total yards while gaining
325.
Gardner-Webb got only 22 yards
passing and 96 rushing. Meanwhile, the Indians rushed for 119 and passed for 206.
At halftime, the most famous
football name in Catawba’s history was recognized when the playing field at Shuford Stadium was named in
honor of the late Gordon A. Kirkland, who coached the Indians to 145 wins in a 14-year
period. He led the Indians to eight conference championships and back-to-back Tangerine
Bowl (now Citrus) wins in 1947 and ‘48.
Kirkland’s children ~ Dr.
Martha West and Gordon, Jr. ~ were present for the ceremony, led by Catawba president Fred
Corriher. A plaque, naming the field in Kirkland’s honor, was unveiled.
``I never thought the score
would be like that,’’ said a happy Coach David Bennett of the Indians. ``It was a
challenge for both sides of the line for us. Our defense met the challenge and our offense
met the challenge. Our offense scored four touchdowns and our defense scored one. We are
proud of them.’’
Catawba offered a scoring
threat in the opening minutes when O. J. Lennon returned the opening kickoff 64 yards to Gardner-Webb’s 34.
The Indians got to the 14 where they were stopped on a fourth-and-one situation.
But later in the opening
period, the Indians marched 66 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead. Ellis got Catawba moving with a 15-yard pass
to tight end Mark Sintich and a 20-yarder to Lennon to the G-W 16.
Two plays later, pass
interference was ruled on the Bulldogs.
The penalty moved the football to the 3, and from
there, Joe Hilliard scored
with 2:10 left in the quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff,
Bulldog running back Justin Richardson fumbled when he was hit by Derrick Montgomery. Alvis James picked up the
football on the 13 and scampered into the end zone and Catawba had a 14-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb got into
Catawba’s territory only once in the opening half.
Ellis carried the Indians to a
touchdown on a 75-yard drive early in the third period. He hit Nick Means for 23 yards and fired a
31-yarder to Cedric Squirewell, a new pass-catching star for the Tribe, to the G-W 25.
Then, after a loss, Ellis drilled a 28-yard aerial to Squirewell for the score. Matt
Gross’ PAT made it 21-0.
``The third touchdown was the
big one,’’ Bennett added. ``When you get three touchdowns ahead you feel pretty good. We
have to give a lot of credit to Ellis. He did another good job for us.’’
The Indians made it 28-0 82
seconds later. Derek Middleton fumbled and Dyran Peake recovered for the Indians at the G-W 16. On the next play,
Ellis connected with Means for the score.
Gardner-Webb broke the ice on
two passes, covering 53 yards, for its touchdown in the third period. Quarterback Jeremy Martin got the score
on a 44-yard heave to Willie Buchanant.
Catawba scored again in the final
period when Hilliard, who led the Tribe at rushing with 66 yards, climaxed at 70-yard
drive by leaping over from the 1.
Ellis, a former North Rowan
High star, put on another sparkling passing performance, completing 11 of 20 for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
Catawba’s Sack Pack
recorded five sacks.
``Gardner-Webb claimed it had the best defense in
the
conference,’’ said Radell Lockhart, one of the standouts for the Indians. ``We
practiced all week to meet that challenge and show that we are the best defensive team in
the conference. Our mission was to stop the run and then stop the quarterback.’’
Lockhart and his teammates
completed the mission in grand style. |
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